Back in 1929, Beechwood State Park began as a Girl Scout camp that back in the day used to cost over $80,000 dollars a year to maintain. And the wonderful woods. Though it feels like you're trespassing through these eerie ruins, they're actually part of a public park enjoyed by thousands of visitors a year. The Girl Scouts of America purchased a parcel of land along the west side of Maxwell Bay and the Rochester division then built and operated Camp Beechwood here starting in 1929. A swimming competition on July 8, 1975, at Camp Wilton in New York. I grew up at Camp Beechwood. Oh gosh I hope it is you and you see it. I loved it and met many people while I was there. The Best Time to Spot Celebs? The swimming pool pump and filter house at the former Camp Beech-Wood in Sodus, N.Y.Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com, In spite of damage from vandals and destructively high lake levels, or perhaps because of it, Beechwood State Park exudes both history and potential. Growing up in Richfield Springs, Petrified Creatures was a place you were proud of. For one thing, taxes on lakefront property in NY State increased dramatically over the years. Im sorry to see Camp Beechwood in such disrepair. WARNING: Under no circumstances should you enter this property. Every city has their areas that residents try to avoid, and Albany, NY is no different. Camp Beach Wood was the only reason I stayed in Girl Scouts as long as I did after I moved my new troop did nothing but book work we all hated it we never went anywhere or did anything together but I had camp beach wood in the summer. But this little-known state park in Sodus is unlike any you've visited before. Rochester Public Library Store [ map it ], Rochester Subway Poster Press Release Stay up-to-date on Rochester-related stories, artifacts, and ideas that you won't find in the mainstream news. The main trails are mowed and fairly flat. See this Creepy, Abandoned Upstate Girl - 103.9 The Breeze - Facebook What Ever Happened To Homes At Woodhaven Park In Rome New York? - Lite 98.7 Very sad to look at these pictures. I miss her and lost tough when camp ended I was so sad. Love New York? Beechwood State Park is also notable for allowing camping throughout the entire park. Knickerbocker News Staff Photo/Times Union Historic Images, Fred McKinney/Times Union Historic Images. Bad news is the bulldozer has been there. Scouting An Abandoned Children's Camp. Bill Weisenback plays tuba on Aug. 9, 1963, at Camp Pinnacle in New York. Camp Kaufmann - Girl Scouts of the USA Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. Update April 2020: The park has a caretaker now, and is expected to open for free camping, for up to five days at a time. Its sad to see the state of it today. My buddies Chris Clemens and Luke Myer (from the Burned Over District blog) recently shared these photos with me. The 175-acre camp was sold for $200,000 to Joseph Leggett, a Tonawanda man who . Third, camp maintenance demands grew out of control as rising waters and storms caused uncontrollable erosion, landslides and fallen trees along the shore. Located in the northern Finger Lakes, this 150-acre plot featured a stunning forest and, back in the day, a fantastic beach on Lake Ontario. Follow her adventures on herblogand Instagram. Theres An Abandoned Mill At The Base Of Wells Falls In New York For You To Discover. became a relic of a bygone era. The Girl Scouts of America purchased a parcel of land along the west side of Maxwell Bay and the Rochester division then built and operated Camp Beechwood here starting in 1929. Former swimming pool. There is a gravel parking area on Lake Road near the bridge for Maxwell Creek, which includes a canoe/kayak access point as well as fishing access. Rydelek often travels for work as a professional contortionist and sideshow performer, and started a Youtube channel to document his discoveries. I was a teenager. All rights reserved. Went here for girlscout camp in the 60s. Thank you! I think the presence of other visitors, often heard but not seen, added to the eeriness of this place. A bluff overlooking Lake Ontario, called Sprong Bluff, was an attractive focal point for gatherings. Summer Camps | Girl Scouts of Western New York camped there in the late 50s in the Ashgrove beautiful area. Abandoned Girl Scout Camp at Beechwood State Park Learn how your comment data is processed. Im behind the times, but just found this post. After the Erie Canal was rerouted south of downtown Rochester, the Rochester It closed due to financial difficulties, according to Standard News. I think because we werent all that much older than the girls, it was a fun adventure for all of us. One year while telling ghost storys sitting under the covered picnic table area I breathed in realy hard and ended up swallowing a gypsy moth, I was coughing u math parts for a while lol. This old Girl Scout camp in Beechwood State Park has been abandoned since the mid-90s. A titanium mine opened in 1940, and the newly christened town of Tahawus grew to over 80 buildings. Located in upstate New York, this camp served as a popular destination for outdoor activities until it shut down and fell into disrepair. By browsing this site, we may share your information with our social media partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy. Industrial & Rapid Transit Railway (the subway) was built in Faith has written for publications like Italy Magazine and TheThings. Winner will be selected at random on 08/01/2023. The SUNY School of Environmental Science and Forestry has taken some interest in the property as of 2010, walking the grounds to take inventory for a recommended management plan. "But now the site is dead and being taken back by nature. More Abandoned & Haunted Places To Explore In Upstate New York. Summer Camp - Girl Scouts .What a terrible change in the water today. The person inside included it was fun. ROCwiki. Mayor Erastus Corning 2nd of Albany signs a proclamation creating Camp Thacher Week and presents a contribution check to children who will attend the camp in 1968. Loved eating in there back in 1963/64/65. Please log in using one of these methods to post your comment: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. The town of Sodus is responsible for park maintenance at the moment. But we never missed swimming, rain or shine! A different trail in the park may reach two more historic locations; one of them is particularly stunning because of its elevated position above Lake Ontario. The parks purpose was then shifted more towards a manageable preserve and it opened with no improvements in 1999. The park is owned by the town of Sodus, and has a parking area off Lake Road. Despite the fact this Girl Scout camp a few hours west of Albany has been vacated for decades, it's a popular hiking destination for those who know where it is. I remember it was noon before someone showed up to plow us out. On Lake Road where Maxwell Road ends. NY, surrounding communities, and their cultural offerings. What do you think of this unique state park and the ruins of this old summer camp in Sodus? may be abandoned and falling apart into the surrounding forest, Here Are The Most Abandoned Spots Around Arizona, In 1929, the Girl Scouts of America established Beechwood State Park as Camp Beechwood. I was so sad to see the pictures of camp Beechwood, I have only just found these pictures as I thought I would try looking for the camp on my computer. such a shame, we had been here a few times and that was one of the best things to look at. Certain neighborhoods and streets in the city have fallen victim to urban decay, and have struggled with rising crime rates in recent years. But like all things good they take whatever they want with a greed for tax money. And the two young men who worked maintenance. It may be that the property wasnt used 100% of the time for the charity. Called the General Motors of the piano industry, these buildings once produced as many as 700 pianos a week. Much fun and happy days. Though it has been 25 years since Camp Beech-Woods closing, the park is far from abandoned. Since then the buildings have fallen into decay and only the occasional mowing is done down the access road and around the main lot containing the mess hall and swimming pool. (LogOut/ It was truly a special place and so much fun. In 2010 a partial solution was found when the Town of Sodus took over management and operation of the park. Nancy Preston was the Camp Director then. Eyewitnesses reported strange lights and glowing green and yellow apparitions. Beechwood State Park, along the shore of Lake Ontario, is located about 20 miles east of Rochester, New York near the small town of Sodus. Edith Macy Center - Girl Scouts of the USA Scouting An Abandoned Children's Camp | Scouting NY Home; Local; Headlines; Coronavirus; Original; Recommend. Also interested in any ghost stories told around those campfires! 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Loved going their as a Girl Scout and as a Leader for my younger sisters. I miss it so vary much. Erica Smith is the managing editor for digital at the Times Union. Beech-Wood was named for the American Beech trees that grew along the lakeside bluff. Girl Scout summer camps and troop camping are a great way to seek challenges, explore and adventure, learn new skills, make new friends, and develop a deep appreciation for nature. 9 Spots to Enjoy Camping & Waterfalls in New York State Parks Hike by waterfalls during the day and sleep under the stars at night at these 13 New York State Parks. The other is located about 200 yards west near the ruins of the old caretakers house. Meredith Sammy Bray, Camp Beech-Wood counselor from 1993-95, reminisced that the water for the pool and showering was pumped directly from Lake Ontario. Located 75 miles north of NYC in Dutchess County, Camp Kaufmann stretches over 425 acres and features a lake, pool, archery range, hiking trails, butterfly garden, greenhouse, ropes course, zipline, and so much more! Driving by, you'd only know it as a horse ranch, offering boarding services, hay, and horse trailers. I missed the bus the last year to go home and got to spend a few hours there after it closed with some counselors in the office and they drove me back from camp to the meet up at MCC. Here's a breakdown of the different types of camp we offer in Western New York. Beechwood State Park is a must-see for those who like exploring abandoned locations. Totally free, never spammy, and you can unsubscribe at any time. I worked there in the early 70s. Id love to hear from some alumni. See this Creepy, Abandoned Upstate - Country 107.7 WGNA FM - Facebook The lake waters were filled with downed trees just below the surface, making for a creepy and somewhat dangerous swimming environment for the campers. As I read the reference to the Ashgrove unit, I was now just able to sing the Ashgrove song that we all learned and heard in my distant memories the harmony that some managed as we sat around the huge campfire. Northeast Abandoned Exploration got inside the infamous Tryon School for Boys, in Fulton County. He kept that camp clean and meticulously maintained it. Home to the abandoned Tioronda Hat Works Factory, this park is a combination of woodlands and marshlands. The place had everything- the lake, a pool, hiking trails and an outdoor shower. 13 Hilariously Bad Reviews of New York State Parks - 96.9 WOUR I worked here two summers in 1977 and 1978 in July and August. Girl Scout camp for nearly 70 years before closing in the mid-1990s. There for 3 years 2 before the pool was there and the last the first year it was open. WARNING: Under no circumstances should you enter this property. Recently, the Town of Sodus has been given permission by the state for use of the park as they see fit. In 1929, the Girl Scouts of America established Beechwood State Park as Camp Beechwood. As of the writing of this article, the park has only seen a minor effort to preserve and restore the existing major buildings. Our Leader was Mrs. Schmeider and it was one of my first leadership and camping experiences. Every Sunday from July 4th to Labor Day weekend, people go to the museum's rolling lawn to bask in the lake breeze and listen to musical performances ranging from choral to jazz to oldies to Big Band to symphonic. See this Creepy, Abandoned Upstate Girl Scout Camp! Free activities for visitors include sunbathing, picnicking, swimming, and using the brand-new playground. There are two parking lots off Lake Road: one leads to a camping and fishing access site adjacent to Salmon (Maxwell) Creek. Campers are welcome to pitch their tents wherever they please or spread out sleeping bags in any of the remaining buildings. Crumbling brick chimneys stand as memorials to the rest. 20 experiences every Capital Region kid should have before growing up, The Capital Region holds these things sacred, Affordable ways to dodge your kids' summer doldrums, Local non-camp alternatives for kids during the summer, Un-regulated summer camps will have to say so going forward, Measles vaccine mandate proposed for New York summer camps. I know many adults and campers who would have gladly donated time and expertise to solve the erosion problems and keep the camp in working order. All rights reserved (About Us). But explorers beware: while most of the following places are open to the public, some are restricted and you visit at your own risk. See this Creepy, Abandoned Upstate Girl Scout Camp! Posted in New York Abandoned April 12, 2023 by Victoria W This Abandoned Girl Scout Camp In A New York State Park Is Like Something From A Horror Film The Empire State has earned a reputation for its abundance of abandoned places. Vittozzi professes, Its my personal goal to save this park. Are there any historic mansions in New York? But go up a dirt road in the back, and you'll find a magical secret. Love New York? Take the well worn path to explore the main camp. Upstate New York is full of ghosts to discover from ghost towns, to ghost resorts, and shipwrecks. The house at the entrance was formerly the caretaker's house, but is now privately owned; please don't block his driveway. Abandoned Camp in Upstate NY Gives Off Major Horror Movie Vibe . with the New York State Thruway (I-90).Read more about the history of the Rochester Subway. Pinging is currently not allowed. There are also ghosts lurking in Lake Eerie. A building next to the pool shower house at the former Camp Beech-Wood in Sodus, N.Y.Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com. It is heartbreaking to see the state of it now. It is full of an astounding number of shipwrecks and some of which can be scuba dived. The renovated bathhouse, the greenway route, and the repositioned bayside beach make Sodus Point Park the ideal site to appreciate the splendor of Lake Ontario. All consecutive years I dont remember the dates but I loved that place so vary much. Look inside an upstate New York abandoned 'home for boys' where Mike Tyson once spent time, and a boy died under suspicious circumstances, just an hour from Utica. Beautifully illustrated interpretive signs explaining the areas history have been erected at the site, and one building, called the MacNaughton Cottage, has been preserved. Rochester's Public Library The swimming pool was nothing but concrete. Entertainment Camped here once during the summer of 1958, when I was still a Brownie. Hey, I was wondering if there was an address for this place. I can still see and walk down its paths and roads as if it were yesterday. Sign up for our newsletter and enter to win the second edition of our book. It was truly a beautiful place. I was a day camp counselor at Beechwood from when we moved to Rocester in1989 until it closed. Rippin, the husband of Girl Scout National Director Jane Deeter Rippin, also designed Rapidan Camp, the Hoovers . I was a camper and counselor there as well. Particularly dilapidated are the slightly-different cabins at the park's edge, where the main road ends. However, there are a few abandoned places in New York that are open to the public or offer unique, guided history tours. WARNING: Under no circumstances should you enter this property. discover the ghosts of the past is the Catskills region in the many abandoned resorts, an abandoned game farm or zoo in the Catskills, Lake Eerie is the smallest and shallowest of the Great Lakes and is full of shipwrecks. Trapped drivers swam out of their cars. A woman died after being swept The buildings crumbled foundation is visible under the water, not far from the shore. I would have been there 1976-1984, with 85 being my CIT year at Pinewood. Other ways to follow RochesterSubway.com For questions about the Rochester Subway Poster or about your order, please email [emailprotected]. Unfortunately, rising tax rates, declining membership, and environmental factors led to the camps closure and sale in 1996. In 1929, the Girl Scouts founded Camp Beechwood on 150 acres of land in the northern area of the Finger Lakes and for seven decades, Camp Beechwood was a summer favorite for girls looking to enjoy the outdoors and Lake Ontario. Learn how your comment data is processed. Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com, The Infirmary was set on fire in early May, 2020, and an arrest recently made from footage of newly installed cameras at the former Girl Scouts of Rochester and Genesee Valley's Camp Beech-Wood in Sodus, N.Y.Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com, Abandoned in Upstate NY: 19 creepy, forgotten places facing great decay, Must-See Farm in Upstate NY: Organic 48 acres with wind turbine, solar panels for $375,000, Meet the new neighbors: Family of 9 to bring new life to Civil War mansion in Auburn, Bargain Mansion in Upstate NY: $54,900 for 8 bedrooms on 9 acres. It just happened to be the coldest weekend of that entire winter maybe 1964 or 1965. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. I camped there for many years with my troop from sacred heart in Rochester ny untill I moved in 1990. When bedtime came, we all snuggled down into our sleeping bags and promptly fell asleep. On July 2, 1918, a terrible explosion at a munitions factory outsideSyracuse, New Yorkclaimed the lives of more than 50 workers, injuring dozens more. Get the inside scoop on todays biggest stories in business, from Wall Street to Silicon Valley delivered daily. Chris and Luke were on their way to Sodus on an unrelated exploration trip when they recalled stories of a nearby abandoned Girl Scout camp and decided to stop and check it out [map ]. Have many great memories of camping with the Fairport Girl Scouts in the early 70s!! Or can someone tell me how to get there; Im from Fairport. Pin marks entrance. The property is huge, I was there for hours and still didnt see it all. Dilapidated Girl Scout camp offers low-key adventure at Beechwood State Poster Art [ map it ] Abandoned Camp in Upstate NY Gives Off Major Horror Movie Vibe A hiking trail between Syracuse and Rochester in Upstate New York is a favorite for thrill-seekers because you can wander through an eerie girl scout camp, abandoned 30 plus years ago. The buildings were left to rot. A hiking trail between Syracuse and Rochester in Upstate New York is a favorite for thrill-seekers because you can wander through an eerie girl scout camp, abandoned 30-plus years ago. The cabins feature much broken glass, bed frames that seem to have been ripped apart, and holes aplenty in the walls. Get more stories delivered right to your email. The camp is remarkably well preserved for having been abandoned and accessible to the public for over two decades. During Saratoga Racing Season. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. One I remember most was a Victoria as well but called Tory and I was Vicki and that Sumer together we were vickitory! An abandoned Girl Scout camp deep in the woods is something from a horror movie, and you can experience it yourself in Upstate New York. Get Email Updates The Empire State has earned a reputation for its abundance of abandoned places. Beechwood State Park was founded as Camp Beechwood by the Girl Scouts of America in 1929. Change). See this Creepy, Abandoned Upstate Girl Scout Camp! Would - NewsBreak Im on Facebook if anyone is interested. To compile our lists, we scour the internet to find properties with excellent ratings and reviews, desirable amenities, nearby attractions, and that something special that makes a destination worthy of traveling for. Change). A recently formed committee that includes Vittozzi, town councilman John Faulks, and two members of the Sodus community focuses on improving the parks management plan and gaining funding. To add to my grief, it had snowed a considerable amount overnight. Unfortunately, rising tax rates, declining membership, and environmental factors led to the camps closure and sale in 1996. Camp Beechwood is a great area to explore, almost completely flat, making it an easy walk. It is especially gorgeous in the fall when the leaves are full of color. I remember the pool and the beach. My mom ( Barbara Baumeister) was the camp cook and her friend Jodie Wyand was the camp director. Home; Local; Headlines; Coronavirus; Original; Recommend. Sodus, N.Y. A few miles from a well-known lighthouse and picturesque bluffs lies a public property that does not fit neatly into most categories.